This popular book gives account of life and work of the most distinguished Soviet scientist – Pyotr Kapitza, Nobel Laurette in physics in 1978.

Kapitza's long and eventful scientific career covers studies in post-revolutionary Petrograd, followed by a long period in Cambridge – first as a student then a close colleague of Ernest Rutherford; then, back in the Soviet Union, his work as the founder and Head of the Institute of Physical Problems in Moscow.

This book by F. Kedrov (a well-know popular-science writer) compiled from 'personal impressions, documents, and a popular exposition of some of Kapitza's works' not only describes the scientist's research into high-power magnetic fields, low temperatures, and later into thermonuclear fusion: it also toucher his other interests and concerns – the training of scientific researchers; the arts and literature; and the pressing world problems of ecology, energy supply, and the thread of nuclear war.